Giant Talon 29 3 (2019) - Review

The Talon 3 comes with Giant's exclusive ALUXX grade Aluminium frame. The hardtail frame has a slanting top tube, which provides an aggressive position yet with supreme control on the trails. Both the top tube and bottom tube aren’t circular; they are flat which makes the tubes sleek and keep the weight in check.The SR Suntour XCT HLO front suspension fork comes with a massive 1mm travel. During the test ride the suspension worked well both on harsh urban roads and rough trails. The suspension lockout feature was easy to operate and helpful to ride faster on flatter roads.

The gearing in the Talon 29 3 (2019) is handled by a combination of Shimano Altus 3-Speed at the front and Shimano Acera 8-Speed at the rear. Combining 2 different levels of gearing have increasingly become popular amongst international brands, especially in their entry and mid-level bicycles. These gears shifted smoothly and had enough range for climbs and acceleration. The Shimano Altus 24-Speed gear shifters were easy to use.

When it comes to design, Giant always comes up with new colours and graphics every year The 219 Talon 3 which I test rode came in a full Grey primary colour on the frame with bright Orange and Black as the secondary colours for graphics. The internal cable routing made the bicycle look neat and the colour coordinated rims, forks and handlebar grips made it look aesthetic.

The stopping power in the Talon 29 3 (2019) is taken care of by a powerful Tektro HDC M275 Hydraulic Disc brakes at the front and back with 16mm rotors. These disc brakes are powerful and balanced and felt safe to engage even at high speeds during the test ride.Giant is known for their use of in house componentry in a majority of their bicycles. One such component is the handlebar. The Giant Connect Trail 78mm handlebar is lengthy with a very slight rise from the middle. This is a perfect MTB handlebar, which means a comfortable and open chested riding posture giving a much better control over the bicycle during fast paced trail rides.

The Maxxis Ikon MTB tires impressed during the test ride. The 29” x 2.2” tires were heavily treaded with bulky buttons, which covered the edges as well. These tires can handle both wet and dry trails with ease. The Giant Connect upright saddle is wide with enough cushioning to keep the rider comfortable while out on the trails.